More Than Coffee – A Lifeline of Hope and Compassion
December 22, 2025
MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AT
When people see the Drug ARM Street Outreach van, they often think it’s just about coffee. But for someone sleeping rough or doing it tough, that simple cup can mean so much more. It’s a lifeline – a moment of hope, a sense of belonging, and a reminder that someone cares.
Russell, SOS volunteer knows this better than anyone. He’s been volunteering with Drug ARM for 6 years, and his story (below) reminds us why this work matters.
“NEARLY 4 IN 5 (78%) OF CLIENTS WITH PROBLEMATIC DRUG AND/OR ALCOHOL USE NEEDED ASSISTANCE WITH ACCOMODATION PROVISION, HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER SPECIALIST HOMELESSNESS SERVICES” – AIHW, SPECIALIST HOMELESSNESS SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT 2023-24
A BURDEN SHARED
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I’ll never forget Dave.
He was an intelligent man, and I loved our chats.
After a while, Dave told me about the trauma he faced as a child. Sometimes he spoke about his mental health struggles – the “demons in his head.” You could see he carried those troubles every day.
When Dave missed coming out to the van now and then, I knew he was going through a tough time. But he always came back. And again, we’d chat like mates.
Until one night, he didn’t.
It hit me hard when I heard that Dave had died.
For someone like Dave, it’s never just about the coffee. It’s about connection. For that moment each week, the Drug ARM Street Outreach Service offers a lifeline – a chance to feel “normal,” to belong, to have hope.
Maybe chatting about what’s going on in their life. Or helping them know where to turn for regular food, safe accommodation, or services to “deal with their demons”, whether mental illness, trauma, addiction.
Having someone to vent to and feel heard makes a difference, too – a “burden shared” as they say! Then, that opens the door to talking through different strategies of handling a problem, before it escalates.
And they walk away a little happier.
“EVERY NIGHT HELPS SOMEONE WHO IS SLEEPING ROUGH OR FINDING IT TOUGH.” – RUSSELL, DEDICATED STREET OUTREACH VOLUNTEER
A NIGHT ON THE STREETS
That’s why I continue to volunteer with Drug ARM. Every night we head out, we meet people who are sleeping rough or struggling with life’s challenges. Some just want a warm drink and a friendly smile. Others need a deeper conversation, someone to listen, someone to care, someone to point them toward help.
Coffee is the connector. The reason to meet. The starting point for more support. The moment of being with a person who will not judge and will care.
My nights usually start when George (the Drug ARM coordinator for the Brisbane City run) picks me up at 7pm at Stones Corner. Roma Street is the first stop – and the busiest.
People are already lined up, waiting, ready; about 50 or so, men, women, all ages. They’ll grab a coffee, a bite to eat, and a quick “hello”. Other services are nearby. The shower van. Someone offers new clothes. A church group is here tonight, too.
Then they wander back. For a second cuppa. And a longer chat.
Some I’ve seen before. They like to see a friendly face. Someone who knows their name and that they like ‘black with two sugars’. Someone who doesn’t judge them and treats them like anyone else, like a human.
Some are transient. That’s life on the street. I don’t ask how they got there.
Not everyone wants a chat, but you see the simple change a coffee makes… just being there – feeling safe, not alone – is enough.
Then 45 minutes later, we’re on the road again.
Next stop: Warry Street in the Valley. A charity kitchen used to run nearby. It’s not there now, but the locals in the block of flats there like it when we come back each week.
The final stop is Spring Hill, where I met Dave. It’s mostly regulars, so we get to know them a bit more. The night ends around 9 or 9.30. (On rainy nights, it might be earlier!)
“WITHOUT FAIL, NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF DAY I’VE HAD AT WORK OR HOW TIRED I AM BEFORE GOING OUT, I ALWAYS COME HOME WHISTLING” – RUSSELL, DEDICATED STREET OUTREACH VOLUNTEER
PATRONS OFTEN EXPERIENCE MULTIPLE VULNERABILITIES
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s (AIHW) Specialist Homelessness Services Annual Report 2023–24, clients with problematic drug and/or alcohol (AOD) use frequently experience multiple vulnerabilities, including family and domestic violence and current mental health issues. The AIHW notes that this subgroup experiences significantly higher rates of mental health service needs and family and domestic violence related assistance than the broader SHS client population. [aihw.gov.au], [aihw.gov.au].
More broadly, the AIHW reports that around 73% of Specialist Homelessness Services clients were identified as experiencing mental health issues in 2023–24.
The report shows a stark pattern: clients with AOD‑related needs are often dealing with far more than substance concerns alone. In 2024–25, among Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) clients with problematic drug and/or alcohol use:
- 73% (around 18,000 people) reported a current mental health issue
- 42% (around 10,300 people) had experienced family and domestic violence
- 33% (around 8,100 people) were living with both a current mental health issue and experiences of family and domestic violence
(AIHW 2025, Table CLIENTS.47)
These findings highlight the overlap between homelessness, mental health, substance use, and family and domestic violence. A combination that significantly increases support needs and makes stable housing harder to achieve.
More details about our outreach services can be found on our website, here.
To enquire about volunteering, call Drug ARM on 1300 656 800 or email
